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HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!
Love and friendship are in the air! It's Valentine's Day -- a most perfect holiday to host a playdate. It's also the perfect time to get together and spend time socializing over the cold winter months with your friends and their children.

Planning this heart-filled playdate is easy: a few lite bites for the adults, a simple menu for the kids, top it off with a heart-felt craft and life is rosy! See all the details on crafts, drinks, lite bites and other fun ideas on my blog at www.colleenmullaney.com or check out my latest webisodes on YouTube or my Facebook Fan Page.
                                                     Cheers!
               Colleen

TIE-DYE COOKIES
Swirls of sugary colors make these shortbread cookies a hearts-on favorite. Heart shaped sugar cookies have been iced and then dotted with pink and red icing. The tie-dye effect is made by taking the small end of a spoon and joining the red and pink dots together in a swirling motion.

For the recipe and simple directions on how to make these items and more wonderful ideas visit my Playdate blog!

HEARTS ON A STRING CENTERPIECE
Hang your messages of love for all to see! Ideal for little ones of all ages, these foamy hearts can be covered in glitter glue, ribbons, stickers, or smaller, colorful self-adhesive hearts.

Hearts on a String

These hearts on a string are showcased on a tree of white branches. A base of Styrofoam set in a bright red bucket secures the branches, and shredded paper in a Valentine's shade of pink fill the base for a perfect finish. This makes an ideal setting to put artwork on display on your kitchen counter, table or sideboard.

You'll Need:
  • Foamy sheets in shades of pink, purple, red and white
  • Heart shaped cookie cutters
  • Decorative foamy hearts with adhesive backs
  • Craft glue
  • Pink or purple glitter
  • Hole punch
  • Ribbons
  • Scissors
  • White branches
  • Styrofoam square
  • Red bucket
  • Shredded pink paper filler for the bucket or base
heart craftheart

It's so easy to do and your kids will love it! See how on my Playdate blog!
Red Hot Punch2
RED HOT PUNCH
Making a punch for your playdate is like serving a party in a bowl. It's easy to make! A festive bowl of Valentine's punch lets your guests serve themselves and frees you up to enjoy the playdate! The jewel-toned pomegranate seeds look like tiny red hots as they float in the punch for a most colorful libation that's great anytime.

TIP:  For a mocktail, substitute 24 ounces of ginger ale and 12 ounces lemon seltzer. And for suggestions on how to make a decorative ice mold or ring, see my book PUNCH.



  • 1 bottle (750ml) brut champagne or sparkling wine (chilled)
  • 4 oz. St. Germain Liqueur
  • 8 oz. cranberry juice (chilled)
  • 1- 4 oz. package of pomegranate seeds
  • Decorative ice ring or 2 cups of ice cubes

In a punch bowl or beverage dispenser, combine liqueur and cranberry juice then add pomegranate seeds. Slowly pour in champagne, add the ice ring or cubes, and serve.

Finally, for a great lite bite for the adults, cut red pepper tortillas using heart-shaped cookie cutters, lightly pan fry them in vegetable oil, blot off extra oil with a paper towel and sprinkle chips with salt. Serve them with a garden fresh dip, or add a few tablespoons of sour cream to bottled Ranch dressing to thicken. Garnish with a tiny heart. Love it!

Heart Tortillas

BE A LOVE ...
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VALENTINE'S DAY PLAYDATE
Tie-Dye Cookies
Red Hot Punch!
Fairy Parties Printing!

5pm

It's almost here!

Colleen's latest book, Fairy Parties: Recipes, Crafts and Games for Enchanting Celebrations, is at the printer at Chronicle Books and coming this spring to a store near you! We'd thought you'd like to see a sneak peek of the gorgeous cover! Want to be the first to get an advanced copy? Send us an e-mail, and Colleen will autograph it and send it to your favorite girl!

5pm
COLLEEN MULLANEY,
Life Made Stylish
A former magazine editor, an accomplished author and expert on all things chic, Colleen is dedicated to showing others how to infuse style into their everyday routines and special occasions.  Her easy to employ tips and fresh ideas for everything from playdates to parties, crafts to cocktails, have secured her role as the lifestylist to watch.